Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1483369730 ISBN 13: 9781483369730

Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc, 2016

Synopsis

This student-friendly introduction to the field focuses on understanding social and practical problems and developing intervention strategies to address them. Offering a balance of theory, research, and application, the updated Third Edition includes the latest research, as well as new, detailed examples of qualitative research throughout. The book begins with separate chapters that define the field, examine social psychological theory, review research methods, and consider the design and evaluation of interventions. Subsequent content chapters focus on the application of social psychological theory and knowledge to such areas as counseling, sports, media, health, education, organizations, criminal justice, community, environment, and diversity.

About this title

About the Author:

Jamie A. Gruman, (PhD, University of Windsor) earned his doctorate in Applied Social Psychology with a specialization in organizational psychology. He is currently an Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, and has previously taught in both the psychology departments and business schools at the University of Toronto and the University of Windsor. An award-winning researcher, he has published articles in such journals as Basic and Applied Social Psychology, Human Resource Management, the Journal of Vocational Behavior, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Human Resource Management Review, Human Resource Development Quarterly, and the Journal of Managerial Psychology. His current research interests pertain largely to positive organizational psychology and his point of entry into this topic is often the organizational socialization process. He is also the founding Chair of the Canadian Positive Psychology Association. 

Frank W. Schneider (PhD, University of Florida) is Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Windsor. He is a cofounder of the doctoral program in Applied Social Psychology at the University of Windsor. He coauthored a textbook on differential psychology and has published articles related to a variety of topics, including policing, group dynamics, organizational effectiveness, evaluation research, social psychology of education, gender roles, domestic violence, helping behavior, race relations, nonverbal communication, attribution theory, and adjustment of the elderly. His current research interests are in the areas of community policing and police organization effectiveness.

Larry M. Coutts (PhD, University of Windsor) is the president of L. M. Coutts & Associates, an organizational and human resource management consulting firm, and teaches part-time in the Sprott School of Business, Carleton University. Larry is a former Director of Research and Development for the human resource consulting company EPSI Inc. and a former Assistant Professor in the Applied Social Psychology division at the University of Windsor. He also has held positions with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as director of the Organizational Design and Job Evaluation Branch and as a senior research principal with both the Personnel Research Branch and the Canadian Police College. His research interests include industrial and organizational psychology, specifically personnel selection (assessment centers, simulation exercises, structured interviews, and testing) and organizational change and development. Much of his published research has focused around law enforcement settings (personnel selection in law enforcement, police hiring and promotion, senior police executive development, etc.).

Review:

"In my opinion, this book will be THE text in that field to use. I say this as a current teacher of such a course and one who is constantly looking for a good book to use. . . .I think this book is great. It is comprehensive and very well written."

(John Berman)

"I especially like the intention to produce an applied text that is highly accessible to an undergraduate audience and that stresses the application of social psychological theory as well as methods. . . . I like the way the editors maintain a consistent format across chapters-and the diversity of topics involved should benefit from having specialists in each area write the individual chapters. Another big plus for this particular volume is that the contributors are primarily from a single major program in applied social psychology. This gives the book an immediate aura of authenticity and unity."

(Herbert L. Leff)

"The text has a range of research from classic through current. This use of classic research appears consistently throughout the text. I am also pleased with diversity as one of the chapter topics."

(Barbara K. Sholley)

"...My view concerning the major accomplishment of this volume: It takes the distinction between 'basic' and 'applied' social psychology and shows that it is more illusory than real, that 'basic' social psychological theory can be applied to a host of significant social and practical problems with the potential to bring about real and important changes. As such, I think that Applied Social Psychology will make a substantial contribution as an undergraduate text - useful both as an introductory text in courses on applied social psychology and, where time will permit, as a secondary text to complement the main text in introductory or junior graduate-level survey courses on social psychology." (CANADIAN PSYCHOLOGY/ PSYCHOLOGIE CANADIENNE, 2005, 46:4, 251-261)

About this edition

• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1483369730
• ISBN 13: 9781483369730
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 616
• Editor: Gruman Jamie A., Schneider Frank W., Coutts Larry M.